Recently, Freddie Mac published a blog post titled Mortgage Rates: Still the Deal of the Century. They explained that, if you are planning to purchase a home, now may be the time: “If you are in the market to buy a home, today’s average mortgage rates are something to celebrate compared to almost any year since 1971.” And they let their readers know that there is no guarantee that rates will remain this low: “Over the past few years, we’ve enjoyed a long run of historically low mortgage rates. While no one expects them to change dramatically overnight, they are…

Every seller wants to get the best price for their house. We learned in high school that the best price for any item will be determined by the demand for that item relative to the supply of that item. We have reported that the inventory of houses for sale is well below normal numbers. There is historical evidence that the demand for housing is about to increase dramatically. Each year, more homes sell in May, June, July and August than any other four months of the year. Here is a graph of homes sales last year by month: Bottom Line…

Yonkers, NY Named One of Livability.com’s Top 10 Healthiest Cities, 2015 Inaugural list identifies and ranks America’s healthiest cities There are two parts to every great healthy city. The first is access to quality and affordable health care. The second is promoting and enabling a healthy lifestyle for its residents through infrastructure and amenities. With this in mind, Livability.com has named Yonkers a Top 10 Healthiest City, 2015. Yonkers provides residents with exercise opportunities, good food choices and strong support networks to help live healthy lives. Our editors looked at data compiled by the County Healthcare Rankings as…

America’s most expensive golf facility is about to open in New York, the first public course in the city for 52 years. The municipally owned Trump Golf Links at Ferry Point, built on a 222-acre former landfill site in the Bronx, has been 20 years in the making, cost $269 million to build and boasts a Manhattan skyline visible from most of the course. When it opens on April 1, residents of New York City will pay a green fee of $141 (£95) for a round, rising to $215 for non-residents on weekends. Property mogul Donald Trump, who took over the…

A recent Demand Institute report revealed “nearly half of all American households plan to move at some point in the future.” Seventy-five percent of those surveyed in the report cited one or more ‘location-related reasons’ for their eagerness to move. Here are the top 5 reasons: 1. Safer Neighborhood – 30% 2. Closer to Family – 27% 3. Change of Climate – 26% 4. Closer to Work – 25% 5. For a New Job – 23% While the majority of Americans (74%) will move within their home state, for the 26% planning to call a new state home, it is…

A Westchester town took top honors in a well-known real estate website’s recent 10 Best Places To Live in New York list. Movoto.com — a real estate website known for its catchy, algorithm-based top 10 lists — ranked Mamaroneck as the best town in New York state to live in. In addition, Westchester towns made up 9 of the top 10 spots on the real estate website’s list. Steve Altieri, Mamaroneck town administrator, said that Mamaroneck’s diverse population, community volunteerism, and coastal location were among the town’s finer points. “Mamaroneck is a coastal community, only 35 minutes from New York…

Many believed that when the housing market crashed, so too would the desire of American’s to own a home again. Many reports have shown that, especially among younger generations, the American Dream of homeownership is still very much alive. Julián Castro, Secretary for HUD, recently summed up what it means to own a home in a speech at the National Press Club. “Homeownership is still the cornerstone of the American Dream — a fact you can see in the lives of everyday folks. It’s a source of pride. It’s a source of wealth, providing both a nest and a nest…

Over the last six years, homeownership has lost some of its allure as a financial investment. As homeowners suffered through the housing bust, more and more began to question whether owning a home was truly a good way to build wealth. Every three years the Federal Reserve conducts a Survey of Consumer Finances in which they collect data across all economic and social groups. Some of the findings revealed in their report: §The average American family has a net worth of $81,200 §Of that net worth, 61.4% ($49,856) of it is in home equity §A homeowner’s net worth is over 36 times…

For men: Guys, it turns out that it really is the thought that counts after all. Yes,flowers, candy and expensive stuff does show that you are thinking about your lady. But the real secret has more to do with how much thought you put into the gift. The more creative you are and the more you give a gift that show how much you’ve been paying attention is what’s key. Here are a few tips from Bankrate.com (believe it or not) on how to make your girl feel special this year: Show a special feature: Invite her to your place for a special movie…

YONKERS, N.Y. – Yonkers is a city on the move. The unemployment rate is at its lowest point since 2008, home sales and sale prices are up, new businesses are opening and more people are shopping and supporting the local economy. It’s great news for Yonkers, but as the city’s economy starts to rev up, we’ve got to remain focused on ensuring that Yonkers remains affordable for our seniors. Years ago in the State Legislature, I helped create the STAR property tax relief program and Enhanced STAR program for seniors, which saved Yonkers seniors up to $2,200 on last year’s tax…